Radio Grapevine

Presenter: Gerard Wilkie

Presents: The Folk Den

I first became interested in Hospital Radio as I had been DJing at clubs and functions for many years and wanted to stop doing that but continue doing something along the same lines . Coming to Radio Grapevine is one of the best decisions I have ever made and the service we provide to the patients in St Johns is first class in my opinion . Doing a request sho , I don't have much opportunity to let my own musical tastes shine through , which is probably a good thing . My favourite artists of all time are probably the Kinks and the Rolling Stones , but my real passion is Prog Rock , which probably wouldn't fit in too well on Hospital Radio . My love for this is so great that I have even had prog legends such as Hawkwind , Focus and Arthur Brown as special guests on my show and for interviews . My other love is folk music - I grew up with it as my mum did folk clubs when I was little and promoted gigs and festivals so they were was no getting away from folk music at home. I enjoy playing session tunes on my mandolin and play mainly traditional Irish folk tunes as much as I can. I also play the tin whistle , bodhran and fiddle and occasionally tinker about on the ukulele.

I'm originally a Lanarkshire man , but have lived in West Lothian for so long that it is home to me . I've lived abroad for some time , in Spain and in Turkey as well as many years living in the West Midlands , but it is always to West Lothian that I return and now call Winchburgh my home .